Construction to improve traffic flow and safety on a busy stretch of Highway 44 east of Redding is scheduled to start in May.

Caltrans will host an open house 5 to 7 p.m. today in the West Venture building (1031 Butte St.) to answer questions, discuss traffic impacts and provide other information on the Stillwater Improvement Project.

When finished, the new interchange will have Stillwater Road cross over Highway 44 as vehicles will be routed back to the highway, where they would be allowed to turn right onto 44 in both directions.

Work is expected to be finished in October, said Nathan Alexander, a Caltrans resident engineer.

“This will eliminate all left-turn movement at both the Stillwater Road interchange and Highway 44 and Gilbert Drive. That is the biggest thing,” Alexander said.

Tullis Inc. of Redding is the contractor. The project’s price tag is $5.7 million, Alexander said.

Stillwater Road will be closed at Highway 44 from mid-May to mid-August as crews build the abutments and new interchange. Alexander said motorists should expect about 15-minute delays as they will be detoured onto Gilbert Drive and Old 44 Drive, depending on the direction they are traveling.

“Our prime construction season is summer, so it works out well, we won’t impact schools as much, maybe toward the end of this year and beginning of next year,” Alexander said.

Lupita Franco, a Caltrans spokeswoman, said the agency reached out to several principals at schools it believes will be most affected by the work. Those schools were Junction Elementary, North Cow Creek, Redding Christian, Chrysalis Charter School and Foothill High School, all in Palo Cedro, and Millville Elementary.

Junction Principal Shawn Martinez said he doesn't expect his school to be impacted too much.

"They did a really good job as various representatives from different parts of the project explained to us the impacts and for how long," Martinez said of a Feb. 28 meeting the schools had with Caltrans.

Franco is encouraging those who might be affected by the construction to attend today's open house.

“The open house this Thursday will be a good opportunity for the general public to learn about traffic impacts during construction, and to speak with the Caltrans team members in charge of this project,” Franco said in an email.

In July, the California Transportation Commission approved funding for the project.

"We are looking to improve safety for the traveling public and we are asking people to have patience, and when it is done it's going to be nice," Alexander said.